Flower Drawings: How to Draw Flowers

Whether depicted realistically or in impressionistic technique, in subdued colors or in full explosion of their natural colors, in bud or full bloom, flowers as a subject in art, both by the artist and the collector, has always had a universal appeal.

Artists have always tried to capture beauty, which is why flowers have always been a perennial favorite with them. For, there is nothing as complex as well as simple and as pure and beautiful as a flower.

If you are one of those who is inspired by the happy, fresh and uplifting quality of flowers, and want to learn how to draw them, here are a few pointers:

Observe the Form
Observation is the key to capturing the essence of anything you want to draw. Hence, first observe the shapes of flowers in nature. For example, the daisy has a round shape, the tulip an oval shape, while foxgloves have a triangular trumpet like shape. Then, notice the petals. You will see that the daisy’s petals are a fairly regular series of oval shaped spokes, while the rose’s petals wrap around in a spiral.

Make the Outline
Next, put a flower, either a real one in a vase or a photograph, in front of you. Then, using an ‘HB’ pencil, begin sketching in your sketchpad. It is best to start by drawing the overall shape of the flower first. Most novices begin sketching the flower from the inside out, as the eye is naturally drawn to the flower’s center. However, this will end up in a misshapen flower in your sketchpad, because it is harder to judge and draw overlapping forms and small distances.

At this stage, do not attempt to put in any shading, details, or other characteristic aspects of the flower. The aim at this point is to capture the general shape of the flower. And once that is achieved, lightly sketch the petals, the stem, and the leaves. Remember, you don’t need to draw every petal and leaf.

Add the Details
Once you are satisfied with having captured the overall shape of the flower, start adding the details. Begin by penciling in hatch lines to depict the shadowed areas of the flower. Balance the dark areas by adding middle tones. Apply a little more pressure with your pencil to create darker lines in order to give more definition to the petals and leaves. Then start shading individual petals to add interest. Notice that the areas where the light hits the flower are lighter in tone, hence shade accordingly. Almost immediately you will find your flower coming to life.

Add the Finishing Touches
Now, continue giving more definition to the image by strengthening the lines and the shadows. Further deepen the shadowed areas, and keep sketching the full mid-tone range, adding intricate details to give character to your drawing. Don’t rush at this stage. Aim for balance and unity. Unleash the artist within you as you give your image feeling and life. However, don’t fall into the temptation of overworking it by adding too much. When you feel that your flower is beginning to feel complete, it is time to stop.

Flowers rendered with a graphite pencil can make a striking artistic statement, although you may need to emphasize the contrast of dark-to-mid-tone-to-light to compensate for the absence of color. When you look for flowers to draw, choose the ones that have interesting patterns of petals and shapes, such as dahlias, hollyhocks, hibiscus, roses, orchids, lilies, tulips, and so on. Small and delicate flowers like violets and honeysuckle also make great subjects for drawing.